THERE are only two days until polls open for the 2017 local council elections.

We know many candidates across our patch have been out in force over the past few weeks, treading the streets, knocking on doors and talking to voters.

At a national level it may appear that the local elections have been overshadowed somewhat by the General Election.

Since Prime Minister Theresa May announced a snap election, there has naturally been a great emphasis on the national picture given the looming Brexit negotiations and that is perhaps understandable.

For some commentators, the local elections are being seen as nothing more than an opinion poll for the national picture.

But we disagree.

And if the passion shown at our hustings event last week in Newport is mirrored across other local authority areas, it is quite clear that local issues and not national ones are very much at the heart of this week’s elections.

This is exactly as it should be.

And our message remains that it is vital to use your vote both this week and next month.

The elections may be very different, the outcome likewise but they are equally important.